While I was not an early adopter I’m now a Facebook fan. I enjoy being able to keep in touch with so many family members and friends, many of whom I might otherwise loose contact. Many of my Facebook friends are former students involved with the youth ministry I lead for over a decade. In fact some of the young people I knew in Jr. High School are now married posting pictures of their children!
Many of the status updates by young people I witnessed commit their lives to Christ reveal they are living godly missional lives. Others however, many more than I care to admit, suggest they are living lives far from God. I’m aware of Peter’s warning, “Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Peter 5:8, HCSB). Any of us can fall prey to our Enemy, which is why it’s important to live “on the alert.” Yet, there is something especially disheartening to the news of a young person who at one time professed allegiance to Christ living in disobedience.
These experiences fuel my desire to “think orange.” I am not suggesting there is some sort of silver bullet out there that will prevent young people from drifting in their relationship with God. I do believe that we need to give the next generation the benefit of a strong family and church. Thinking orange is a word picture used by ministry leaders to describe the synergy that occurs when family and church join forces. The color red representing “warm hearts” symbolizes the family. The color yellow representing the light of Christ, symbolizes the church. Orange is what results when these to collide.
In Acts 2:39a, following the call to repent and believe the gospel, the apostle Peter says, “For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off.” The promise is the church (God’s Holy Spirit taking up residence in all who repent and believe in Jesus, Acts 2:38). Where does the church’s mission begin? “For you and for your children”… the family. This is orange.
God chose Abraham to establish a covenant whereby the whole world would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). God’s call to Abraham was not only on him as an individual, but to his family, “For I have chosen him (Abraham) so that he will command his children and his house after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just. This is how the LORD will fulfill to Abraham what He promised him” (Genesis 18:19, emphasis added). Abraham’s family was included in fulfillment of the mission given to him… this is thinking orange.
What will it look like for New Monmouth Baptist Church to take the next step in thinking orange? This is a question we will need answer together. We are blessed as a church to have some of the most dedicated and committed youth and children’s ministry team members anywhere. Reggie Joiner in his book, Think Orange: Imagine The Impact When Church and Family Collide examines three axioms about the discipleship of the next generation:
1. Kids need parents who will help them advance in their relationships with God.
2. Parents need churches that will help them know how to be spiritual leaders.
3. Churches need ministry workers who do less for kids and more for families.
4. It’s not either church or family; it’s both church and family.
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